Combined closure and scouring pad for containers



March 14, 1961 F. P. GRIFFETH El'AL 2,974,786

COMBINED CLOSURE AND SCOURING PAD FOR CONTAINERS Filed April 25, 1958 United States Patent COMBINED CLOSURE AND SCOURING PAD FOR CONTAINERS Forrest P. Grilfeth and Lena Grilfeth, both of 1510 Greeley Ave., Kansas City, Kans.

Filed Apr. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 731,043

4 Claims. (Cl. 206-47) This invention relates to an improved package for substances such as scouring powders and has for its most important object, to provide a package wherein a combination closure and scouring pad is detachably secured to the lid of the container having powder dispensing openings therein in a position to prevent removal of powder from the container until after the pad has been disengaged from the lid and which thereafter is adapted to be utilized for scouring purposes in conjunction with the powder removed from the container.

It is a further important object of the instant invention to provide a package as referred to above, wherein the lid closing the dispensing end of the container has a number of scouring powder clearing openings therein for permitting controlled removal of the powder from the container, and means is provided for detachably securing the combination closure and scouring pad on the lid in overlying relationship to the openings to thereby preclude dispensing of scouring powder from the container until after the pad has been removed. It thus can be understood that a salient feature of the present invention is to provide a package wherein the combination closure and scouring pad serves the dual purpose of initially closing the dispensing openings of the container until it is desired to utilize some of the substance in the container, and then is adapted to be utilized as a scouring device in conjunction with the powder.

Also an important object of the invention is to provide a package wherein the combination closure and scouring pad is formed of highly absorbent, substantially wear resistant, cellulosic material to thereby assure that the entire package may be fabricated and marketed at a minimum cost per unit and substantially reducing the number of component parts necessary in construction of the package.

Other important objects of the invention relate to the provision of a package wherein a tape having adhesive on one face thereof may be utilized to secure the combination closure and scouring pad to the lid or to the container by virtue of the tape being positioned across the pad, with opposite ends thereof adhesively attached to the sides of the container; to the provision of a modified form of the invention wherein an ordinary staple is used to detachably secure the'pad to the lid of the container, thereby lessening the cost of manufacture of the unit; to the provision of a package wherein the pad is relatively thin and lies substantially within an inner, depressed area of the lid so that the containers may be stacked one on top of the other without dividers or similar supports being necessary between horizontal rows of containers; to the provision of another form of the present package wherein a strip may be provided between thepad and the lid and which is adhesively attached to the upper face of the lid in overlying relationship to the openings, to thereby absolutely preclude passage of powdered material from the container until after the pad and the strip have been removed; to the provision of an outwardly extend- Y ing tab integral with the pad which facilitates removal Patented Mar. 14, 1961 2 of the latter from the container; and to other important objects and salient features of the instant invention which will become obvious or be explained more fully as the following specification progresses.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package embodying the concepts of the instant invention and showing a combination closure and scouring pad detachably afiixed to the dispensing lid of the container;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical, cross-sectional view taken on the lines 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, horizontal, cross-sectional view taken on the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical, cross-sectional view of a modified package wherein an adhesive strip is disposed between the combination closure and scouring pad and the lid of the container;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view of another modified package wherein an adhesive tape is utilized to detachably aiiix the combination closure and scouring pad to the container; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical, cross-sectional view taken on the lines 66 of Fig. 5.

Briefly, the present invention comprises a package including a cylindrical container open at one end thereof and adapted to receive a quantity of powdered substance in the nature of scouring powder, and having a lid over the open end thereof in closing relationship to the same and provided with a series of powder dispensing openings in the central portion thereof. A combination closure and scouring pad formed of highly absorbent, relatively wear resistant, cellulosic material is detachably secured to the lid within the inner, depressed area thereof in overlying, closing relationship to the dispensing openingsin the lid. Various means may be utilized to secure the pad to the lid but it is particularly contemplated that either a staple or tape having adhesive on one face thereof be utilized to detachably mount the pad on the dispensing lid. In this manner, the pad serves to prevent powder from being removed from the container until after the pad has been detached from the container and then subsequently, such pad is adapted for use in conjunction with the powder within the container.

A package constructed in accordance with the preferred concepts of the instant invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawing and is generally designated by the numeral 10. Package 10 comprises a generally cylindrical container 12 having a bottom 14 closing one end thereof and a lid broadly designated 16 disposed in closing relationship to the opposite end thereof.

Lid 16 includes a relatively fiat, circular, inner plate 18 provided with an annular channel segment 29 integral with the outer peripheral margin of plate 18 and extending laterally therefrom in one direction away from container 12, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The upper edge 22 of container 12 is received within channel segment 20 of lid 16 so that plate 18 normally closes the uppermost open end of container 12.

Plate 18 of lid 16 has a series of powder dispensing openings 23 therein, preferably arranged in a circle adjacent the center of plate 18, as indicated in Fig. 3, and openings 23 are preferably open at all times, although the same may be defined by circular, weakened lines in plate 18 in a manner to be more clearly defined hereinafter. A relatively flat, circular combination closure and scouring pad 24 is positioned over lid 16 within the depressed area thereof defined by plate 18 and channel segment 20 and, as indicated in Fig. 2, the diameter of pad 24 is substantially equal to the inner diameter of channel segment 20 so that pad 24 is in flat engagement with the outer face of plate 18.

Various types of components may be utilized to detachably secure pad 24 to lid 16 or, in the alternative, to container 12, but it has been found that the preferred means consists of a staple 26 attached to lid 16 and pad 24 with the intermediate portion 28 thereof in flat engagement with the inner face of plate 18 and opposed L shaped legs 30 passing through respective openings 23 in plate 18. The outermost ends 32 of legs 30 are bent toward each other and into engagement with the outer face of pad 24 to thereby secure the latter to lid 16.

In order to facilitate removal of pad 24 from container 12, a tab 32 is integral with the outer peripheral margin of pad 24 and extends outwardly beyond channel segment stance and lid 16, having pad 24 thereon, is forced over the upper edge 22 of container 12 into a position as illustrated in Fig. 2. The containers are then packed for shipment to retail outlets and it can be recognized that because of the'utilization of relatively flat pads'24, the outer faces of the same do not extend beyond a plane substantially through the outer edge of channel segment 20 and thus, dividers are not necessary between horizontal rows of the containers to stack the same to a relatively high height.

The purchaser of package need only grasp tab 32 of pad 24 to remove the latter from container 12, whereupon the powdered substance within container 12 may be easily dispensed from container 12 through openings 24. Inasmuch as pad 24 is constructed of highly absorbent, relatively wear resistant, cellulosic material, it can be appreciated that the same is particularly adapted to be utilized as a scouring device in conjunction with the powder in container 12.

A modified form of the instant invention is illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing, wherein the package is designated by the numeral 110 and thereby includes a cylindn'cal container 112 having a lid 116 thereon identical with lid 16 of package 10, and thus the same need not be re-described. Combination closure and scouring pad 124 positioned over plate 118 of lid 116 is similar to pad 24 and is secured in place by a staple 126 positioned with the legs 130 thereof extending through openings 123 in plate 118 and, in turn, engaging pad 124 to detachably secure the latter in place.

In order to absolutely preclude passage of powdered substance from container 112 through openings 123 until pad 124 has been removed, a strip 134 may be provided between opposed faces of pad 124 and plate 118 of lid 116. It is contemplated that the surface of strip 134 adjacent plate 118 have a suitable adhesive thereon so that strip 134 is removably secured to lid 116 in overlying, closing relationship to openings 123. In this connection, strip 134 is formed of material permitting staple 126 to pass easily therethrouglr during attachment of pad 124 to lid 116. The utility of pad 124 is the same as that described with respect to package 10, and serves to provide a scouring pad for use with the powder contained within package 114).

A third modified form of the present invention is shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing, wherein the package is designated generally by the numeral 210 and includes a cylindrical container 212 adapted to receive powdered scouring material and closed at the uppermost end thereof with a lid 216 identical with those ,described above. Pad 224 is positioned within the inner, depressed area of lid 216 and may or may not have a tab thereon for facilitating removal of the same as desired. Plate 218 of lid 216 is provided with a series of scouring powder clearing openings 223 in the central portion thereof identical with those illustrated in Fig. 3, and means for maintaining pad 224 in overlying, closing relationship to openings 223 comprises a tape 236 having adhesive on the surface thereof adjacent pad 224 and the side walls of container 212, so that the opposed ends 238 of strip 236 and the bight portion 240 thereof 'releasably engage pad 224 and container 212 respectively. v

It can be seen that pad 224 may be readily removed from container 212 by merely pulling upwardly upon ends 238 of tape. 236 and then subsequently, pulling bight portion 240 thereof from the outer face of pad 224. In this manner, pad 224 is ready for immediate use and powder may be dispensed from container 212 through openings 223.

Pad 224 may be applied to either end of container 212 without affecting the ability to stack the containers. The initial thickness of pad 224 is substantilaly the same as the height of annular, marginal rib 217 of lid 216 The pad 224, therefore, may be carried by either end of the container. I V I Although the preferred embodiment and various modifications of the instant invention have been described and illustrated, it is apparent that various other changes may be made in the construction set forth without departing from the spirit of this invention and therefore, it is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a package, a cylindrical container open at one end thereof and adapted to receive a quantity of a dispensable substance; a lid closing said open end and including a circular plate having a peripheral channel segment extending laterally from said plate to define a depressed area in the lid, said channel segment receiving the edge of said container defining said open end thereof said plate having a plurality of opehings therein for permitting controllable dispensing of said substance from the container; and a circular, externally disposed, relatively thin, wear resistant, highly absorbent scouring pad coextensive with said depressed area removab-ly mounted within said depressed area in overlying, closing relationship to said openings.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein substantially no portion of the pad extends beyond a plane through the outer edge of said channel segment.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least a pair of said openings are opposed and a U-shaped clip having a pair of legs joined by a bight removably mounts said pad within said depressed area, the legs of said clip being extended through said pair of openings from the interiorly facing side of said plate and through said pad to engage said bight with said interiorly facing side, said legs being bent downwardly against the outwardly facing surface of said pad to 'removab-ly secure the latter to said plate.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein is provided an elongated strip overlying said pad and said lid and adhesively secured at respective ends to the cylindrical side wall of said container and intermediate said' ends to said pad to removably mount said pad within said depressed area.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

